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that affect the ride less. To do this you can either make the object shorter or more rigid. Odds are you're not
going to chop your ladder in half to make it shorter, but making it more rigid is surprisingly easy. In the case
of ladders or 2x4s, lay them flat on the U-tube or SideCar rather than standing them on edge: They are much
more rigid across their width than their edge. When transporting tubes, bundle them together tightly, so they
act as one rigid, large-diameter object rather than a bunch of floppy individual ones. Again, test riding before
you embark on your journey is key: You don't want to be surprised by a violent wobble.
WARNING: Always make sure your cargo is secured by straps rated over the weight of your
cargo, and attach warning flags to any cargo extending behind or infront of your bike.
E. Wet Weather Riding
WARNING: Wet weather impairs traction, braking and visibility, both for the bicyclist and for
other vehicles sharing the road. The risk of an accident is dramatically increased in wet
conditions.
Under wet conditions, the stopping power of your brakes (as well as the brakes of other vehicles sharing
the road) is dramatically reduced and your tires don't grip nearly as well. This makes it harder to control
speed and easier to lose control. To make sure that you can slow down and stop safely in wet conditions,
ride more slowly and apply your brakes earlier and more gradually than you would under normal, dry
conditions.
F. Night Riding
Riding a bicycle at night is much more dangerous than riding during the day. A bicyclist is very difficult for
motorists and pedestrians to see. Therefore, children should never ride or be passengers at dawn, at dusk
or at night. Adults who chose to accept the greatly increased risk of riding at dawn, at dusk or at night need
to take extra care both riding and choosing specialized equipment which helps reduce that risk. Consult your
dealer about night riding safety equipment.
WARNING: Reflectors are not a substitute for required lights. Riding at dawn, at dusk, at night
or at other times of poor visibility without an adequate bicycle lighting system and without
reflectors is dangerous and may result in serious injury or death.
Bicycle reflectors are designed to pick up and reflect car lights and street lights in a way that may help
you to be seen and recognized as a moving bicyclist.
CAUTION: Check reflectors and their mounting brackets regularly to make sure that they are
clean, straight, unbroken and securely mounted. Have your dealer replace damaged reflectors
and straighten or tighten any that are bent or loose.
The mounting brackets of front and rear reflectors are often designed as brake straddle cable safety
catches which prevent the straddle cable from catching on the tire tread if the cable jumps out of its yoke or
breaks.
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